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A variety of Chung Chun’s corndog-like snacks, dressed with a variety of colorful sauces, served in paper trays and wrappers.
Some of the Korean corn dogs at Chung Chun’s Rice Dog.
Haley Hill Photography

Where to Get Cheap, Delicious Food in Seattle

Fantastic food at affordable prices

by Jade Yamazaki Stewart, Meg van Huygen, and Eater Staff Updated
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Some of the Korean corn dogs at Chung Chun’s Rice Dog.
| Haley Hill Photography
by Jade Yamazaki Stewart, Meg van Huygen, and Eater Staff Updated

Seattle is an incredible city to dine in, but too often it’s also an unaffordable one. You can get unbelievable wood-fired pizzas for $30 and imaginative cocktails for $16, but just because these things are “worth it” doesn’t mean you always want to empty your wallet for them. Fortunately, there are still some great places out there that are easy on the credit card and worth plenty of return visits. Below is a list of some of the truly excellent meals in the city that won’t break the bank, with satisfying tacos, kathi rolls, chili-drenched hand-pulled noodles, and more.

As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically north to south. Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com.

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El Cubano To Go

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Although he’s had a few different restaurants in Seattle over the years — with spots in Shilshole Bay, Greenwood, and Licton Springs, all called Geo’s — chef Geordanys Rodriguez has lately focused on his takeout shop at 200th and Aurora, where he does Caribbean entrees and sandwiches, including a pan con lechon that rivals Paseo and Un Bien. Everybody loves the eponymous Cubano too, although one sincerely cannot go wrong on this menu. All the sandwiches are two meals’ worth, served on legit Cuban bread that Geo has flown in from Tampa, for around $11.50. If you see the chicken fricassee sandwich on special, get it.

19920 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 629-4443
(206) 629-4443

Man'oushe Express

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These Middle Eastern flatbreads (mana’eesh), made in a Wood Stone oven at Goodies Mediterranean Market, are one of Seattle’s best-kept secrets. Gut-bustingly large and wallet-friendly, they’re piled high with za’atar, ground lamb, kefir, bulgur, and mint.

13721 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 362-2694
(206) 362-2694

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Oliver's Twist

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After owner Karuna Long bought this bijou bar and restaurant in 2017, he added his mom’s unique-to-Seattle Cambodian recipes to the menu. The cherry on the Vieux Carré? All these fragrant, gorgeous entrees hover around $16. The Cambodian rice bowls and vermicelli dishes don’t miss, but the braised pork belly (kha sach chrouk) rice bowl, with caramelized palm sugar, coconut milk, soy sauce, bamboo shoots, and a sunny egg on top is just, whew, unforgettable. And every bite of OT’s curry-based hot & sour beef stew (somlaw macchu kroeung sach ko) is like a warm hug from your — or perhaps Long’s — mom. 

6822 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 706-6673
(206) 706-6673
A bowl of braised pork belly with a fried egg on top
Oliver’s Twist’s kha sach chrouk bowl
Meg Van Huygen

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Xi’an Noodles

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This no-frills spot on the Ave in the U District has been slinging some of the city’s best Chinese food since it opened in 2016 (it has since expanded to Downtown Seattle and Bellevue). Bowls of hand-pulled, wide biang biang noodles are the main attraction, made from scratch every day. Other must-try dishes include the spicy cumin lamb.

5259 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 522-8888
(206) 522-8888
A closeup view of a bowl filled with lamb cumin noodles and herbs, pulled with chopsticks.
Lamb cumin noodles
Gabe Guarente

Aladdin Gyro-Cery & Deli

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There’s so many things to love about Aladdin’s Gyro-cery: the punny name, the super-late hours (open until 2:30 a.m. on weekends!), the colorful tapestry-bedecked tent room in the back, the interesting beverage options (e.g., blackcurrant-based Vimto soda), and of course, the prices. The best menu item comes in at a luxe $9.55: the lamb shawarma. Wrapped in lavash that’s slathered with hummus AND tahini before all the beautiful roasted lamb is added, this thing’s just dripping with sumac-infused olive oil and lamb fat and pickle brine and tomato juice, making shiny, delicious puddles all over the tray. Better get some fries, too, to soak those puddles up. 

4139 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 632-5253
(206) 632-5253

19 GOLD Taiwanese Restaurant

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Fremont Taiwanese restaurant 19 Gold is perhaps best known for its boba and malatang (spicy stews full of meat, seafood, and vegetables). But like many Taiwanese restaurants, it has a more affordable side to the menu, with popcorn chicken, braised pork belly over rice, minced pork noodles, and chicken cutlets all coming in at under $10.

3601 Fremont Ave N suite 101, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 588-0952
(206) 588-0952

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Tacos Chukis

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This taco mini chain with four locations around Seattle is a consistently good choice for an inexpensive meal. The star meat here is adobada, served in a house special taco with pineapple and melted cheese, in cheesy mulitas, and in quesadillas. The chicken baby burrito also makes a satisfying small meal, and nopal tacos are available for those looking for a vegetarian option.

832 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 518-9025
(206) 518-9025

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Spice Waala

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This Capitol Hill restaurant has quickly gained traction as one of the best spots for Indian street food in the city (it also recently expanded to Ballard). The lamb kebab and chicken tikka kathi rolls are both popular picks, as well as gluten-free snack options, such as papdi chaat.

340 15th Ave E #202, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 466-5195
(206) 466-5195

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Saigon Deli

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There are two totally unrelated Saigon Delis in Seattle, and they’re both cheap and fantastic, but the one on Jackson in Chinatown-International District is the REALLY cheap one. For only $5, one can choose a generously sized banh mi from around ten options, with all the pickly accoutrements, on the freshest of French rolls with the freshest of herbs. Meatball and barbecued pork are fun, slightly unusual banh mi options, while the Three Kinds of Ham roll crushes all others as the crowd fave. 

1237 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 322-3700
(206) 322-3700

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Chung Chun Rice Dog

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The C-ID outpost of this Korean fast-casual chain serves fun and satisfying meat-on-a-stick offerings, with coatings ranging from panko breadcrumbs to Korean ramen noodles to squid ink, served with a selection of savory and sweet sauces.

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
A variety of Chung Chun’s corndog-like snacks, dressed with a variety of colorful sauces, served in paper trays and wrappers.
The Korean corn dogs at Chung Chun Rice Dog.
Haley Hill Photography

Emerald City Fish and Chips

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This tiny, bare-bones South Seattle gem has been frying fine Southern-inspired seafood for a decade, with choices ranging from salmon to halibut to catfish to cod. And while fish is obviously the star of the show, the rest of owner Stevie Allen's menu is airtight as well, particularly the gumbo and po’ boys.

3756 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 760-3474
(206) 760-3474
A view of fried fish with fries in containers on top of trays covered in red checkered paper.
Emerald City is a South Seattle gem.
Emerald City Fish and Chips/Facebook

Taco Street

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This taco sensation near the Othello light rail station serves soft tacos Northern Chihuahua-style, naked with a choice of meat, plus burritos, tortas, and breakfast burritos (most under $5). There’s a large selection of sauces, salsas, and toppings to customize these beauties.

7136 Martin Luther King Jr Way S #102, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 659-0583
(206) 659-0583

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Taqueria la Fondita

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This White Center staple — with a food truck outpost on Aurora — hands-down serves some of the best tacos in the Seattle area. The affordable tacos (carne asada is an excellent choice) come piled up with generous portions of meat, and the grilled Serrano peppers on the side round out the meal.

9811 15th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 551-0529
(206) 551-0529

Also featured in:

Spice Bridge

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This food hall inside the Tukwila Village development supports women-owned immigrant businesses with kiosks serving a variety of international dishes for takeout. There are comforting Somali-Kenyan-Tanzanian stews at Moyo Kitchen, Congolese cuisine from Taste of Congo (including wonderfully chewy beignets), and satisfying Gambian and Senegalese food, such as fish yassa, from Afella Jollof Catering.

14200 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 141, Tukwila, WA 98168

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El Cubano To Go

19920 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133

Although he’s had a few different restaurants in Seattle over the years — with spots in Shilshole Bay, Greenwood, and Licton Springs, all called Geo’s — chef Geordanys Rodriguez has lately focused on his takeout shop at 200th and Aurora, where he does Caribbean entrees and sandwiches, including a pan con lechon that rivals Paseo and Un Bien. Everybody loves the eponymous Cubano too, although one sincerely cannot go wrong on this menu. All the sandwiches are two meals’ worth, served on legit Cuban bread that Geo has flown in from Tampa, for around $11.50. If you see the chicken fricassee sandwich on special, get it.

19920 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 629-4443
(206) 629-4443

Man'oushe Express

13721 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125

These Middle Eastern flatbreads (mana’eesh), made in a Wood Stone oven at Goodies Mediterranean Market, are one of Seattle’s best-kept secrets. Gut-bustingly large and wallet-friendly, they’re piled high with za’atar, ground lamb, kefir, bulgur, and mint.

13721 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 362-2694
(206) 362-2694

Oliver's Twist

6822 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

After owner Karuna Long bought this bijou bar and restaurant in 2017, he added his mom’s unique-to-Seattle Cambodian recipes to the menu. The cherry on the Vieux Carré? All these fragrant, gorgeous entrees hover around $16. The Cambodian rice bowls and vermicelli dishes don’t miss, but the braised pork belly (kha sach chrouk) rice bowl, with caramelized palm sugar, coconut milk, soy sauce, bamboo shoots, and a sunny egg on top is just, whew, unforgettable. And every bite of OT’s curry-based hot & sour beef stew (somlaw macchu kroeung sach ko) is like a warm hug from your — or perhaps Long’s — mom. 

6822 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 706-6673
(206) 706-6673
A bowl of braised pork belly with a fried egg on top
Oliver’s Twist’s kha sach chrouk bowl
Meg Van Huygen

Xi’an Noodles

5259 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

This no-frills spot on the Ave in the U District has been slinging some of the city’s best Chinese food since it opened in 2016 (it has since expanded to Downtown Seattle and Bellevue). Bowls of hand-pulled, wide biang biang noodles are the main attraction, made from scratch every day. Other must-try dishes include the spicy cumin lamb.

5259 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 522-8888
(206) 522-8888
A closeup view of a bowl filled with lamb cumin noodles and herbs, pulled with chopsticks.
Lamb cumin noodles
Gabe Guarente

Aladdin Gyro-Cery & Deli

4139 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

There’s so many things to love about Aladdin’s Gyro-cery: the punny name, the super-late hours (open until 2:30 a.m. on weekends!), the colorful tapestry-bedecked tent room in the back, the interesting beverage options (e.g., blackcurrant-based Vimto soda), and of course, the prices. The best menu item comes in at a luxe $9.55: the lamb shawarma. Wrapped in lavash that’s slathered with hummus AND tahini before all the beautiful roasted lamb is added, this thing’s just dripping with sumac-infused olive oil and lamb fat and pickle brine and tomato juice, making shiny, delicious puddles all over the tray. Better get some fries, too, to soak those puddles up. 

4139 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 632-5253
(206) 632-5253

19 GOLD Taiwanese Restaurant

3601 Fremont Ave N suite 101, Seattle, WA 98103

Fremont Taiwanese restaurant 19 Gold is perhaps best known for its boba and malatang (spicy stews full of meat, seafood, and vegetables). But like many Taiwanese restaurants, it has a more affordable side to the menu, with popcorn chicken, braised pork belly over rice, minced pork noodles, and chicken cutlets all coming in at under $10.

3601 Fremont Ave N suite 101, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 588-0952
(206) 588-0952

Tacos Chukis

832 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

This taco mini chain with four locations around Seattle is a consistently good choice for an inexpensive meal. The star meat here is adobada, served in a house special taco with pineapple and melted cheese, in cheesy mulitas, and in quesadillas. The chicken baby burrito also makes a satisfying small meal, and nopal tacos are available for those looking for a vegetarian option.

832 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 518-9025
(206) 518-9025

Spice Waala

340 15th Ave E #202, Seattle, WA 98112

This Capitol Hill restaurant has quickly gained traction as one of the best spots for Indian street food in the city (it also recently expanded to Ballard). The lamb kebab and chicken tikka kathi rolls are both popular picks, as well as gluten-free snack options, such as papdi chaat.

340 15th Ave E #202, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 466-5195
(206) 466-5195

Saigon Deli

1237 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144

There are two totally unrelated Saigon Delis in Seattle, and they’re both cheap and fantastic, but the one on Jackson in Chinatown-International District is the REALLY cheap one. For only $5, one can choose a generously sized banh mi from around ten options, with all the pickly accoutrements, on the freshest of French rolls with the freshest of herbs. Meatball and barbecued pork are fun, slightly unusual banh mi options, while the Three Kinds of Ham roll crushes all others as the crowd fave. 

1237 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 322-3700
(206) 322-3700

Chung Chun Rice Dog

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104

The C-ID outpost of this Korean fast-casual chain serves fun and satisfying meat-on-a-stick offerings, with coatings ranging from panko breadcrumbs to Korean ramen noodles to squid ink, served with a selection of savory and sweet sauces.

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
A variety of Chung Chun’s corndog-like snacks, dressed with a variety of colorful sauces, served in paper trays and wrappers.
The Korean corn dogs at Chung Chun Rice Dog.
Haley Hill Photography

Emerald City Fish and Chips

3756 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

This tiny, bare-bones South Seattle gem has been frying fine Southern-inspired seafood for a decade, with choices ranging from salmon to halibut to catfish to cod. And while fish is obviously the star of the show, the rest of owner Stevie Allen's menu is airtight as well, particularly the gumbo and po’ boys.

3756 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 760-3474
(206) 760-3474
A view of fried fish with fries in containers on top of trays covered in red checkered paper.
Emerald City is a South Seattle gem.
Emerald City Fish and Chips/Facebook

Taco Street

7136 Martin Luther King Jr Way S #102, Seattle, WA 98118

This taco sensation near the Othello light rail station serves soft tacos Northern Chihuahua-style, naked with a choice of meat, plus burritos, tortas, and breakfast burritos (most under $5). There’s a large selection of sauces, salsas, and toppings to customize these beauties.

7136 Martin Luther King Jr Way S #102, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 659-0583
(206) 659-0583

Taqueria la Fondita

9811 15th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106

This White Center staple — with a food truck outpost on Aurora — hands-down serves some of the best tacos in the Seattle area. The affordable tacos (carne asada is an excellent choice) come piled up with generous portions of meat, and the grilled Serrano peppers on the side round out the meal.

9811 15th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 551-0529
(206) 551-0529

Spice Bridge

14200 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 141, Tukwila, WA 98168

This food hall inside the Tukwila Village development supports women-owned immigrant businesses with kiosks serving a variety of international dishes for takeout. There are comforting Somali-Kenyan-Tanzanian stews at Moyo Kitchen, Congolese cuisine from Taste of Congo (including wonderfully chewy beignets), and satisfying Gambian and Senegalese food, such as fish yassa, from Afella Jollof Catering.

14200 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 141, Tukwila, WA 98168

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